(Kemptville)
– The Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) hosted a sod turning ceremony Tuesday to mark the construction of the new
Kemptville Public School
(KPS) project.

The ceremony took place at the construction site – located on County Road 44, 1.2 kilometres north of County Road 43 – at 9:00 a.m. The event featured remarks by special guests including MPP Steve Clark, North Grenville Mayor David Gordon, UCDSB Chair Jeff McMillan, UCDSB Trustee Lisa Swan, UCDSB Director Stephen Sliwa, and KPS Principal Tracy Staples.

“I’m so pleased our elementary students will soon enjoy a new school in Kemptville,” said McMillan. “This will be a facility we can all be proud of in which our students will enjoy rich learning experiences allowing them to grow and adapt to an ever-changing world.”

“I would like to thank the provincial government for making this happen,” said Swan.

The KPS construction project is being financed by the
Ontario Ministry of Education
. Although unable to attend, Minister of Education Liz Sandals sent her best wishes to guests of the ceremony.

“In the years ahead, I am confident that Kemptville Public School will provide its students with a well-rounded education that will inspire and challenge them,” Sandals wrote.

“Education is about more than just learning to read and write – it is also about learning to be good citizens. I am sure that your new school will provide its students with the support they need to achieve success.”

The new 43,836 square-foot structure will feature new classrooms, project/resource rooms adjacent to classrooms, air conditioning, an open, multi-function resource space with a stage, gymnasium and a large greenspace for a yard. Architecture49 designed the school, while Bourgon Construction is the general contractor responsible for construction.

The single-storey facility will replace the current KPS located on Reuben Crescent. That facility was originally built in 1958, with an addition in 1978.